E25: Silversmith Audio Fidelium Loudspeaker Cables 

Hello Jeff... Thank you so very much for both taking the leap of faith (I know what cables you were using and we BOTH know how good they are) and for posting your experience with them here... Enjoy, my good man.

Hello Jim. OUTSTANDING... We look forward to hearing about your experiences!

Jim, ….and? What is your resume after 6 months? Thx

@@bikemike1118 Love them, they are better than anything else I've tried (which is not all that much but does include stuff around twice the price). A significant negative is they don't work with some binding posts. I picked up a pair of LRS's to try and had to use older cables. But with my Focals they are amazing

You should be hearing from Commander Smith very soon! 😁 Enjoy!

Hello Dave. Thanks for sharing your thoughts here... I'm thrilled to have helped so many people realize the benefits of these SUPERB cables... And you are correct, I've had the pleasure of knowing Jeff for some two decades now, and he is one of the truly good guys in our industry.

Thanks, Marcus... She is such a sweetie! Did you see her webpage at the audio analyst© website? www.theaudioanalyst.com/stella/

Hello Eric... Thanks for the confirmation of the experience. When the word spreads about these remarkable cables, I suspect that there will be a lot of unhappy hyper-audio cable companies, and that there will be a SHITE LOAD of exotic and previously very price cables showing up on the used market... 😉

@@theaudioanalyst Time to short commodities. :)

@@ericneff1202 Jeff shared a link to your review at the Silversmith Audio website, so I'm adding that here... silversmithaudio.com/content/Reviews/HiFiPlus189Fidelium.pdf

Thank YOU for watching, taking the leap of faith, and the time to write. Enjoy!

Hello Chris... These are literally a new standard of reference, at a price that, well, should send ripples through the hyper-audio cable world. They are simply superb in every respect. Believe me, as I indicate, I did NOT want to admit to myself that they were as remarkable as they were, but...it is what it is. They are my new reference.

I just bought two pair of 8’ on your recommendation!

Hello John, thanks for sharing... I will admit to being somewhat surprised! Did you use the Fidelium Biwire adapter? That was CRUCIAL for my application, as I indicate in the print review. But, thanks for giving them a shot...

Hi Greg, initially I wired both stereo sets (four ribbons/eight posts) directly to *just* one of my speakers and mono block amps), to audition them with both mono and stereo music sources (with both channels playing) - amazingly effective in judging the general differences in just about all performance characteristics/parameters between the existing ‘control’ cables and the Fideliums. Then I used Audience Au24 SX speaker cables (customized jumpers, well broken-in) to ‘properly’ connect the Fideliums in a stereo configuration. Sure - once the Fidelium jumpers become available, I can give them another try! 😙

@@john-oss5065 Hi, how would you compare the Fideliums to the SX?

Hello Dave...imagine how I felt! These are going to send ripples through the hyper-audio cable world.

Thanks for seeing the big picture here. This was something I didn't WANT to find, but, it is what it is. These cables are game-changers, and once the word spreads, there are going to be an awful lot of exotic and expensive cables showing up on the used market.

@@theaudioanalyst what kind of interconnects XLR would you recommend to go with these speaker cables.?

@@trulyhari Silversmith Palladium or Audience SX to name a couple

Hello Sigurd... Thanks for you kind words and for taking the time to write! Did you find a local dealer in your area of Norway, or did you order directly from Silversmith? 😉

@@theaudioanalyst I ordered directly from Silversmith. Excellent service with a personal touch 😊👌!

Thanks for sharing... I'll look forward to your take...

@@theaudioanalyst ?Greg, I don't have a cable burn-in machine. Running the cables over time on my amp will they eventually reach the performance you've ultimately achieved?

@@user-nv5tp3fu5u Great question. First, I'd direct you to the written review here www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/1120/Silversmith_Audio_Fidelium_Loudspeaker_Cables_Review.htm, and for a number of reasons. I had to really abbreviate a lot of info to fit the time constraint, which is why I PLEAD with all viewers to go read the review. SO MUCH MORE INFO is available there. First of all, the biggest difference came with the introduction of the Fidelium Biwire Adapters... And, while run-in WILL IMPACT EVERY CABLE, I suspect that the largest factor here was the implementation of those adapters. And, run-in with speaker cables will come to a major degree with time. You might want to read something like this (www.thecablecooker.com/reviews/) to get a sense of why I use a burner - it primarily saves tremendous amounts of time, especially with ICs and Phono Cables.

Looking forward to hearing your impressions :)

Hello Mac Man... I hate to say I told you so, but...um... I did! 😊 I'm glad you are digging them so far. Keep us posted, won't you! Thanks so much.

Always nice to see Phish (or the Dead) referenced with something I’m considering for my system, as that’s 75% of what flows through it.

Michael, thanks for seeing the reality here. I DIDN'T want to find what I did, but it is what it is. These are phenomenal cables. My biggest concern is that, as affordable as they are, when dropped into SOME systems, because of their utter truthfulness, if you have been "seasoning" your "bright" speakers by trying to balance that using a "dull" amp or sources, well, there is no hiding anymore... ;-(

Thanks for the enthusiasm for the cables... They are STELLAR! And we are in complete agreement that EVERYTHING MAKES A DIFFERENCE. See my Audio Axiom Number Nine, in Episode 9! But, we'll have to agree to disagree on what it means to be a "flat-earther." The term clearly refers to people who do NOT have open minds, or question anything, as the empirical evidence makes the belief in a "flat earth" beyond unsupportable, making it impossible. The term instead refers to people who cling DESPERATELY to an unsubstantiated belief, typically based on limited, incorrect, or incomplete information...

@@theaudioanalyst I have, in fact, watched every episode of the Audio Analyst except for the one prior album review. We do agree on most things regarding stereo sound reproduction. With regards to the term "flat earther", we will have to agree to disagree. In order to be able to dismiss the status quo one has to unlearn everything one has been taught. For example, you just made generalized statements about the topic on hand with zero examination of evidence. For example, using spherical trigonometry one can calculate the approximate curvature of a ball 25,000 miles in circumference. It works out to be 8" per mile squared. If the earth were a ball 25,000 miles in circumference as purported by status quo, when going outside and making observations on visible objects and factoring in viewing height above sea level, things can be seen that should be obscured by supposed "curvature". In reality there is absolutely, unequivocally no curvature to be found, anywhere except for curved lenses and CGI. I would like for you to state specifically what research you have done on the topic at hand, besides offering you opinion. Because I have spent hundreds of hours investigating both the heliocentric and geocentric models. Both models are plausible, however, only one is correct. In fact, there are many scientific experiments conducted such as the Michelson Morley experiment, Sagnac experiment, and Airy's Failure all prove a flat and stationary earth, just as it says in the Bible.

@@hiresaudiocosta873 Well said!. Yep 100% agree earth is absolutely flat and stationary which can be proven easily in endless ways. I`m sure TAA must be aware by now hehe

I'm so happy you found their merit in your system. So far, only ONE viewer has not felt they were beneficial in their own rig. Happy holidaze, and thanks for watching and sharing!

Hey Don, don't get me wrong. The K-S products are outstanding. I'm just here to say that these cables are going to put the hyper-audio cable companies on alert...

Hello Dave... Yes, BOTH (RCA & XLR) are in the works, and Jeff says I'll have them in hand as soon as he is ready to ship! Believe me, I'll be sharing my thoughts on them.

Hello Fabian. I'm sorry to say that I've never heard the MG Audio Design cables - at least, not that I know of. And, when I went to their site to do some research on them, it looks as if the site is gone. I am told that the URL is available for purchase. Are they out of business?

@@theaudioanalyst thanks so much for your fast reply. Yes, unfortunately they are out of business since 1-2 years now, with their website down since a few months… very beautiful and respected cables they used to make… with similar prices as the Fideliums… Maybe one day I can do the comparison myself. I’ll let you know how they’ll hold up for sure. :)

@@fabiangeimer-lorusso7197 Greg (MG-Audio) unfortunately is no longer with us. I agree MG-cables are very nice. We have used the Planus III for a number of years. Upgraded to the Audience SX which sounds very similar but on a higher level. We also use Silversmith Palladium IC`s which are the best ever heard. Perfect mids and highs. Bass is just as good but somewhat on the lean side better suited to larger or warmer speakers.

As I indicated from the outset, and shared with Jeff back when we met in 2002, that level of minimalism, even back then with his Silver ribbons, just makes unassailable sense, right? Less interaction can't do anything but help the resultant signal transfer. And, I've no idea why you would worry about my martini! 😉 While I have no issues with vodka in particular, I drink martini's, not vodka martinis! "The classic martini was created as a gin cocktail, so for those interested in having the typical martini experience, give gin a try. ... "Different brands of gin are made using different botanicals so they all taste unique." If the herb flavor of the gin proves too strong for you, order a vodka martini instead." www.businessinsider.com/how-to-expertly-order-a-martini-2013-11

The reason that there is no mention of a “relative lack of bass” here is that there is none. You must understand that I use the $250,000/pair Von Schweikert Audio ULTRA 9s (www.vonschweikert.com/ultra-9), a speaker that plays confidently down to 16Hz. In fact, as I state, starting at 18:15 (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-paPNUOhWPdA.html), “Not only did extension improve at both frequency extremes, and my ULTRA 9s play down to 16Hz and up to 60 kHz, but pitch definition at the low end, and effortlessness, air, and ease of the topmost registers, were clearly being handled more accurately than they had been with my *muy bueno* reference cables. None of the previously noted low-frequency roll-off I’d heard with the earlier Nordost or Goertz cables here…in fact, just the opposite. With the Fidelium, (insert image 10_jumper2conn.jpg here please) bass not only seemed to extend deeper but the precision of pitch definition, its attack and decay were as realistic as I’ve ever noted from any loudspeaker cables. In particular, the leading edge of bass transients was rendered in an especially lifelike way-one that delivers an inescapably authentic weight, texture, and power to the music.” If you are “experiencing” some reticence in extension, speed, or definition of low frequency information with the Fideliums in place, you will need to look elsewhere for the cause. It may be that what you are finding to be “lean bass” with them in place is actually a bloat or exaggeration that the other cables you “prefer” are contributing to your systems performance. But I assure you, there is no leanness of bass - or any other attribute - with the Fidelium Cables. Regardless, best of luck…

@@theaudioanalyst Well, I have Wilson Alexia speakers and am using PS Audio BHK 300 monoblock amps to power them. Not as expensive as your system, but probably more expensive than a number of audiophiles' systems. The thinness I am hearing has nothing to do with 16hz! It is in a range that many loudspeakers, mine included, can reproduce when properly placed in a room. I've been an audiophile since college - over 45 years. I may not have your system, but as a pianist, and a life-long attendee of concerts and recitals, I would bet that I have heard at least as much live music as you. I know what my system sounds like and it is set up in my room so that the bass sounds appropriate, not bloated or exaggerated, with all the other cables I own. In fact I know very well what exaggerated bass is and I HATE it. That is why I find your suggestion that I "prefer" the bloated or exaggerated bass that you claim my other cables may be producing to be more than a little condescending and insulting. Also, I did not say that I preferred the other three cables, I acknowledged the virtues I heard. I just pointed out that in my system the Fideliums bass - at least at present - sounds unacceptably lean. If that doesn't change I will sell them because realistic bass is essential to me. I note that a couple other people who reviewed these cables, also heard a weakness/leaness in the bass, at beat initially. v2.stereotimes.com/post/silversmith-audio-fidelium-speaker-cable-by-mike-wright/. www.thesoundadvocate.com/2020/06/silversmith-audio-fidelium-speaker-cables-first-review/

My apologies if I took what you shared originally at face value. I took your comment, “But the most noticeable aspect of the sound of my system with these cables installed is the relative lack of bass,” to mean exactly that. Then too, your statement, “So it seems that the three other cables are all "wrong" and give rise to too much bass, or the Fideliums are "wrong" and do not generate sufficient bass (for me).”, would seem to suggest that that you have a preference for the bass performance of the other three over the Fideliums. Again, I’m sorry if that is not what you were trying to communicate. As to the reference to my ULTRA 9s, it was not meant to disparage your speakers, or to question your current setup or room interactions, after all, you originally shared no particulars other than you found the Fidelium’s performance to be lean. That reference was shared as an assurance that I was using a loudspeaker quite clearly capable of revealing ANY disparity or deficiency of bass, whether it be slurred transient speed, lightened extension, slighted weight, diminished impact, leanness of tonality or thinness of texture. You have my assurance that none of what I related was in any manner meant to be either condescending or insulting. I would add that during the recent visit of another seasoned music lover and journalist, with no solicitation, he opined that he had *never* heard more precise, accurate, fleshed-out, authentic-sounding bass from any system he’d previously heard. Again, all of this is shared only to reassure you that no other journalist I know (I’m sorry to say that I know neither Mike Wright nor Frank Peraino) who has experienced them, like Hi>Fi+’s Eric Neff or Positive Feedback’s Dr. David Robinson, found anything worth noting, or any concerns, with the Fidelium's during the burn-in process. And please recall that I further mention, at about 15:04 (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-paPNUOhWPdA.html), that “I decided to run-in the Fidelium’s, on my Audiodharma Cable Cooker, just to be fair, as all my other cables are “retreated” with it regularly.” This, combined with the application of his ingenious “biwire adapters,” may have abated any temporary burn-in issues by allowing me to achieve their full potential after their time on that remarkably effective tool. As such, I stand by the statemen that I shared in my first response, that the Fidelium’s are not prone to *any* relative lack of bass. You may wish to try to benefit from some dedicated run-in time. If time on a dedicated device such as the monstrously effective Audiodharma Cable Cooker is not an option, my second choice would be to use track 7 (the five-minute-long “Full Glide Tone”) from the 2001 Ayre Acoustics CD, “Irrational, But Efficacious,” set to repeat at a VERY low volume. I stress the use of starting at a VERY low volume - if played too loudly, the highest frequency portions of the sweep could permanently damage your tweeters. Be warned. Thanks again for writing. Again, best of luck with them. They TRULY are extraordinary cables.

@@theaudioanalyst And I stand by my statement that in my system, at present, the Fideliums have a noticeable leanness in the bass compared to three other cables that I have, all of which are audiophile quality cables and one of which is over $10K. I might be open to an argument that one of the other cable generates incorrect, bloated, exaggerated bass, but not that ALL THREE have a bass problem. It is an issue with the Fideliums, an issue that was identified the reviews I referenced above. Perhaps they will fill out in the bass over time. That is why I am keeping them for the moment. But if they don't, I'll sell them.

Well, I kept these cables for a long time, and gave them more than a fair chance. But I've sold them. The sound did not change over the time I owned them, so lack of burn-in was not an issue. The leanness in the bass did not go away. Also, I did not mention this before, but these cables required me to increase the volume on my preamp substantially in order to get the same sound level from my speakers that I get with my other cables. The obvious explanation is that these cables have VERY high resistance. That isn not a good thing.

Hello Mark... While I understand your curiosity, there is nothing to update. And just for accuracy, this episode is just over sixteen months old. 😉Regardless, NOTHING has changed... In fact, if you saw Episode 50, from Jun 6, 2021, "Products of the Decade," ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-EV8gyejWRFk.html, you'd see that I awarded this performance-busting loudspeaker cable the absolute top honors. While I selected products from a number of different catagroies, the Silversmith Audio Fidelium Loudspeaker cable was THE Product of the Decade, 2011-2020...

Hello Jack, thanks for writing... I'm not clear on what you are asking with your second sentence, but as of this writing, the interconnects have not been released. They ARE coming, and you can be assured that I will have a report for RU-vid (and probably in print) as soon as they land and I have time to get a listen. And, no word on AC Cables yet at all... As to biwiring with Fideliums, while Jeff and I have differing opinions on the advantages or disadvantages of that application, I used ONLY a single wire set, BUT, with his AMAZING Fidelium Biwire Adapters... PLEASE see my written review, as it goes into MUCH MORE DETAIL on their use and their sonic benefits. I've added that link again here, just for convenience... www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/1120/Silversmith_Audio_Fidelium_Loudspeaker_Cables_Review.htm

Thanks for writing, Johnson. I have to say, though I've not heard the Django XLs in a few years, they NEVER tended toward bright, or for that matter, leaned in any way away from utter neutrality, any time that I did. I might suggest that it is perhaps something else in your system causing that skewed sense of brightness. But to be clear, the Silversmith Fidelium cables are not cables anyone would use to attempt to "flavor" or “season” a system in one way or another. As I said in both my written and video reviews, what it accomplishes, regardless of price, is a staggering step forward in musical authenticity, allowing your aural illusion engine to transport you that much closer to the original performance. They offer seemingly uninhibited speed of transmission, broadband, and alluringly undeniable accuracy of pitch. Their authentic sense of timbre and rightness of tone, combined with coherence, a dimensionality, a presence, a texture, to deliver an immediacy that is so clearly evocative of the live event. They are the paradigm of proper voicing, with an unswervingly musical accord, no band accentuated or minimized. Their integration is so seamless, so coherent that it left me shaking my head. So if you were hoping to use them to “tune” out what you perceive as a tonal problem, this seeming brightness you have mentioned, that is not likely. On the other hand, they WILL show you EXACTLY what your sources, electronics, and speakers are doing.

Thank you!

Between a 300B and KT150 tube amp, what would be your recommendation for the Django XLs? I'm contemplating between the ARC 160S stereo amp and the Canary Audio Grand Reference 300B Monoblock amplifier. I'm currently using the ARC vsi75 integrated. It sounds good but lacks dynamics. As a result, I'm using a pair of REL S/812 subs to achieve better bass. Your advice is very much appreciated. I listen to virtually all genres of music except classical. I have both digital and vinyl setups. Thanks.

@@johnsonadekunle7675Hello again. I may not be the best candidate to answer this particular question, as I suspect that I am less enamored of the 300B sound than many! 😉 My personal preference would be for the Audio Research 160S. I *generally* find the harmonic envelope generated by the KT series of tubes (and the KT88s even more so than the KT100s, KT120s, or KT150s) to be much more "authentic" - to my ears - than that of the *typically* more euphonic and overly lush sounding 300B... Sorry if that is not what you wanted to hear, but, it is my personal truth... That said, you should likely consider keeping the excellent REL S/812 subs, and, not for dynamic impact alone. If need be, work on their integration to get them as perfectly matched to the Django XLs as possible. It is no secret that I consider the accurate recreation of the lowest frequencies of the audio spectrum to be utterly crucial to the authentic reproduction of the entire musical envelope, from its overall fidelity of tone color and balance, to affording a remarkably authentic representation of the acoustic of recordings. The Django XLs three 8" aluminum bass reflex woofers, while listed as going to about 26Hz, will benefit greatly from the use of properly integrated stereo subs. Thanks again for your support of the channel, and for taking the time to write!

Thank you for your response. I'm also leaning in the direction of the ARC 160S amp. I appreciate you taking time to read my message.

Thanks, Rain Man. They are the Von Schweikert Audio ULTRA 9s - Episode 6 is about them - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-T9y2qg9HMHE.html - and here is my written review at The Absolute Sound - www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/von-schweikert-audio-ultra-9-loudspeaker/ Enjoy!

Thanks for replying ... They look amazing ... Bet they sound even better ... 😎

@@rainman3269 You would be correct! 😁

Hello John. Thank you for writing. As much as I would love to help, I would have no idea. This is a question for the manufacturer. Did you use any of the information available in the Comments section above (Voice: (619) 460-1129 / E-mail: Jeffrey Smith - info@silversmithaudio.com / Website: silversmithaudio.com/) to reach them to ask?

Are you talking about when I reference my "muy bueno" reference cables? That is colloquial Spanish that loosely translates as "awfully good."

Hello, and of course not! I'm sorry you would even think that a possibility. In fact, I'm a founding member of the Association of Independent Audiophile Publications. You may wish to review our principals at our website, here. aiap-online.org/

@@theaudioanalyst Thanks for clarifying! I didn't actually think that in this case but this was such an improbable scenario that I thought I owed it to myself to ask.

@@asegal4677 Understood. I'm sorry that you felt that need, but, thanks for watching and writing! 😉

@@theaudioanalyst Apologies!

@@asegal4677 No worries... Thanks again for watching and writing... 😉

Hello Don. All DIY, man. I've used bamboo kebob skewers, three tied with cotton twine, or even a rubber band, to hold them open as tripods, and now I'm just using some four-and-one-half inch tall by three-and-a -half inch wide cardboard tubes...

@@theaudioanalyst oh wow I thought they would be some exotic materials! I need to get my speaker cables at least off the ground. It also looks better

@@pennfootball71 So, I'm not opposed to such devices, it is just that - well, I can't see spending huge $$$ on them since the cheap stuff works so darn well. More money to spend on Records... I just ordered this (www.discogs.com/Joan-Sutherland-Marilyn-Horne-James-King-3-Martti-Talvela-Wiener-Staatsopernchor-Wiener-Philharmonik/release/9368300) five minutes ago! 😅

Hello Ron. I ran them for a full fresh speaker cable burn, just a little under 3 days... BUT, I firmly believe that the biggest reason for the change came by REMOVING my existing "jumpers" and using the AMAZING Fidelium Biwire Adapters. PLEASE see my written review, as it goes into MUCH MORE DETAIL on their use and their sonic benefits. I've added that link again here, just for convenience... www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/1120/Silversmith_Audio_Fidelium_Loudspeaker_Cables_Review.htm

@@theaudioanalyst Thanks! 👍

Hector Alvarez - that is EXACTLY how I felt! 😃 These cables have the potential to change the way people spend money on loudspeaker cables...

I just recently upgraded , but may get a pair soon .....

@@hectoralvarez941 With the 30-Day guarantee, there is nothing to lose. Please let us know here what you think if you do give them a try, won't you? Thanks.

LOL... It is such a shame that you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about... But that's ok, since you think you do... Bye...

@Saturn, Crypto Man, or whoever you are; Those that think they know better, are annoying, as all get out, to those of us that do. Subjectivity, paired w/ context, exists in “a wondrous land of, both, shadow and substance, of things and ideas... (here’s looking at you, Rod).” In addition (regardless of said, delivered, syntax) - who, in hell, christened you; SME, judge, & leading authority ??? “Less than a dollar” - GTFOH.

I don't know what I'm talking about? Review your own video. These are the same phrases you used in the above video to describe an 8-foot piece of speaker wire.

@@coreyoliver3653 "$1200 for 8-feet of speaker wire" - GTFOH

@@SaturnV2000 LOL. You clearly are utterly clueless on the subject and have only revealed how little you actually know about such matters. Stop embarrassing yourself.